4.70 by 71 reviews.

Toshiba Canvio Basics 2TB Portable External Hard Drive Review: A Reliable Storage Solution?

The Toshiba Canvio Basics 2TB Portable External Hard Drive is a sleek, compact, and highly functional storage solution designed for those who need extra space for their digital files. Whether you're a gamer, a professional, or someone who loves to store media, this external hard drive promises to deliver reliable performance with its USB 3.0 connectivity, plug-and-play functionality, and 2TB storage capacity. But does it live up to the hype? Let’s dive into the details based on real customer experiences.


Pros and Cons: What Customers Are Saying

1. Ease of Use and Setup

One of the standout features of the Toshiba Canvio Basics is its simplicity. Customers have praised its plug-and-play functionality, which eliminates the need for complicated software installations. One user shared their experience using it with a Dishnet Hopper 3: "It was super easy - plugged it in, a box came up on my TV that asked if I wanted to update and format - I clicked yes and that was it. It was ready for transfer of saved material."

This seamless setup makes it an excellent choice for those who aren’t tech-savvy. However, some users noted that while it’s pre-formatted for Windows, reformatting for Mac OS requires a bit of extra effort.

2. Performance and Speed

The USB 3.0 connectivity ensures fast data transfer speeds, which is a major plus for gamers and professionals alike. A gamer who uses it with their Xbox Series S mentioned: "Transfer speeds greatly outperform my wifi router, making it more ideal for gaming... Backing them up on a drive has 1 gb/s where transfer speeds of my wifi router to the Xbox are about 0.2 gb/s."

However, some users pointed out that the transfer speed can vary depending on the file size and the device it’s connected to. While it’s not as fast as an SSD, it still delivers reliable performance for its price point.

3. Portability and Design

The compact and lightweight design of the Toshiba Canvio Basics makes it highly portable. Measuring approximately 5" x 4" x 0.75", it easily fits into a bag or pocket. One user appreciated its sleek, matte-black finish and the small flashing light that indicates when it’s in use.

However, some users mentioned that the included USB cable is relatively short (about 1 foot), which might be inconvenient for those who need more flexibility in placement. If you require a longer cable, you’ll need to purchase one separately.

4. Durability and Reliability

The Toshiba Canvio Basics is built with mechanical hard disk technology, which some users found to be a double-edged sword. While it’s reliable for everyday use, it’s more prone to failure compared to SSDs. One user noted: "Unlike the 1TB version, I can feel the 4TB version vibrating while in use, suggesting that there is a spinning disk inside. As other people reviewing this have pointed out, it is more prone to failing than an SSD drive."

Despite this, many users reported no issues with durability, especially when used with proper care. A former sysadmin shared their experience: "I have 2 older ones that are from 2012 now, and all 5 of these are doing well so far. I use them primarily for video and audio storage/playback."

5. Compatibility and Versatility

The Toshiba Canvio Basics is compatible with a wide range of devices, including PCs, gaming consoles, and smart TVs. A PS5 user mentioned: "It’s very portable and sleek... It’s never had any issues repairing itself or downloading to it, and it’s pretty fast too!"

However, some users highlighted limitations when using it with specific devices. For example, the PS5 requires games to be downloaded to the console first before transferring them to the external drive, which can be a minor inconvenience.


Conclusion: Is the Toshiba Canvio Basics Worth It?

The Toshiba Canvio Basics 2TB Portable External Hard Drive is a solid choice for anyone in need of affordable, reliable, and portable storage. Its plug-and-play functionality, fast transfer speeds, and sleek design make it a versatile option for gamers, professionals, and media enthusiasts alike.

However, it’s not without its drawbacks. The mechanical hard disk technology makes it more susceptible to failure compared to SSDs, and the short USB cable might be a limitation for some users. Additionally, while it’s easy to use, reformatting for Mac OS or specific devices like gaming consoles requires extra steps.

Final Verdict: If you’re looking for a budget-friendly external hard drive with ample storage and decent performance, the Toshiba Canvio Basics is a great option. Just be mindful of its limitations and ensure you handle it with care to maximize its lifespan.

Specification Toshiba Canvio Basics 2TB Portable External Hard Drive USB 3.0, Black - HDTB420XK3AA:


External 3 5
Yes
External 2 5
Yes
Internal 3 5
Yes
Internal 2 5
Yes
Internal Hybrid
Yes
Internal Sas
Yes
External Ssd
Yes
Internal Ssd
Yes
M 2 Sata
Yes
M 2 Nvme
Yes
U 2 U 3
Yes
Microsd Flash
Yes
Sd Flash
Yes
Compact Flash
Yes
Cfast Flash
Yes
Cfexpress Flash
Yes
Usb Flash
Yes
Bd Re
Yes
Bd R
Yes
Dvd Rw
Yes
Dvd R
Yes
Cd Rw
Yes
Cd R
Yes
Lto 3
Yes
Lto 4
Yes
Lto 5
Yes
Lto 6
Yes
Lto 7
Yes
Lto 8
Yes
Lto 9
Yes

Comments from Amazon:


 Worked great

I purchased this to save my recorded programs/movies from my Dishnet Hopper 3. Worked great. I wasn't clear if it came with a usb or not, so I purchased one... DON'T.... It comes with one that works perfectly. I keep it hooked up to the hopper, so the nice short cord is useful... (about 1 ft). If you need a longer one, then perhaps you'll want to purchase one - but not necessary otherwise. It was super easy - plugged it in, a box came up on my TV that asked if I wanted to update and format - I clicked yes and that was it. It was ready for transfer of saved material. The drive itself is approx 5:x4"x 3/4". It is black and has a little flashing light when it's being used. I had things sorted on my Hopper in "files". So far, I cannot figure out how to make folders on the hard drive, so everything is just mixed on the hard drive - that means looking thru about 200 titles - Eh - but the point of the hard drive for us is to save the content if we have to replace the Hopper at some point. It is easy to move the files back and forth.. And you can play the movies from the hard drive. It did take quite a while to transfer, we had about 50% of our Hopper memory - a number of hours. But no biggee to me. So far, I am happy with my purchase, however, time will tell. Having said that, I never hesitate to update my reviews should new info seem useful.

 Not cheap

Well made, good quality. Not cheap. Works well easy to use Easy to install. Nice size, as advertised. Works well no problems.

Great product, works as intended with no flaws.

 The game console comes with 300 gb of storage for gaming which is terribly very small

I do a lot of gaming and one of the big problems I have with my xbox series s is storage. The game console comes with 300 gb of storage for gaming which is terribly very small. An easy work around to this is to redownload games and back up data to the cloud but the problem with that is it requires internet to be able to do that and to back up games to the cloud takes forever compared to backing them up on a drive. Backing them up on a drive has 1 gb/s where transfer speeds of my wifi router to the xbox are about 0.2 gb/s making storing them on a drive 5 times faster in terms of transfer speeds and such. This is not my first toshiba drive. I bought a 1 tb drive last year but I chose to get rid of it because 1 tb is just not enough storage for game transfer. I have already used up 2.7 tb of the 4 tb drive I bought from this seller. Pros: 1. Dirt cheap drive. 2. Stores what you want. 3. Transfer speeds greatly out perform my wifi router making it more ideal for gaming in my opinion because the xbox series s is hugely impacted by the number of different games you can play. Cons: 1. Unlike the 1 tb version I can feel the 4 tb version vibrating while in use suggesting that there is a spinning disk inside. As other people reviewing this have pointed out it is more prone to failing than a ssd drive. Just something to keep in mind. I haven't had this drive fail on me yet. Conclusion: I have repeatedly transferred back and forth repeatedly numerous terrabytes worth of data and it has not failed on me yet. Just remember to keep backups of backups always. Good day!

 But it’s never had any issues repairing itself or downloading to it and it’s pretty fast too! All and all this is a great storage for a ps4 since you can’t download ps5 games directly too the storage but can with ps4 games, instead you have to download your game first then transfer it to the storage but I have no issue with this seeing that my internet is fast

I bought this product because of my PS5 console, I wasn’t able to download most of my games so I got this and it’s very portable and sleek, my only issues is powering it down properly since it can still be running a little after the console is shutdown. But it’s never had any issues repairing itself or downloading to it and it’s pretty fast too! All and all this is a great storage for a ps4 since you can’t download ps5 games directly too the storage but can with ps4 games, instead you have to download your game first then transfer it to the storage but I have no issue with this seeing that my internet is fast.

 I was at first scared by the negative reviews, but after carefully making sure I reformat them BEFORE using, I have had NO issues

So far I have been pleased with all 3 of these I have bought. I was at first scared by the negative reviews, but after carefully making sure I reformat them BEFORE using, I have had NO issues. I use these smaller 2TB models, because they are more stable for long term storage than the larger models. And it takes much longer to do maintenance on them with tools like Spinrite, or Gparted when they are in a larger size. I am a former Sysadmin, and I use these for a lot of data. I have 2 older ones that are from 2012 now, and all 5 of these are doing well so far. I use them primarily for video and audio storage/playback. I would recommend that you throw away the OEM cable, and immediately purchase a dual USB harness cable. One of the main issues with these not working right (other than making sure you reformat out of the box), is these USB 3 drives need a lot of power. If you hear them whir up and go click repeatedly, you aren't feeding them enough power. These Y cables have 2 male USB plugs, one has a smaller diameter cable. This is for the extra power, the fatter one is the data cable, don't get these mixed up. Make sure the data one is plugged into your MAIN USB chain directly from the motherboard (usually in the back of PC's), not the front, as these do not have the throughput needed to handle them. Make sure your device handles USB 3, add a card if possible if they don't. If on a laptop, make sure to use the set that has 1 side by side USB sockets, not the single, that is meant for a mouse. You can use an external batter power supply, but it will kill it rather fast. You can use a clean transformer power source (5VDC 1.5-2 Ah), just remember to plug in the drive, BEFORE connecting it to your computer or device. I have not tested these with NAS or DMP's yet, but make sure you follow the manufacturers suggestions on when to connect or how to boot. Some of the earlier Cisco DMP's will wipe the drive if you do not do it exactly as suggested. Some devices, like PS3/4, etc require it to be formatted in FAT32, and to have a specifically name folder layout for your movies and photographs, make sure you follow this. Otherwise most problems I read on here are probably user error. Not all, but most. Nothing is perfect. But so far I have had no problem with this brand and type of drive.

Fire TV stick funciona muito bem e muito rápido, e para as TVs mais antigas e possivel acrescentar os aplicativos que não estão disponíveis.

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